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“No. That can’t be. We only planned it a few hours ago. How did you even know about this dinner?”
“Sweets, don’t ask too many questions. Just take all this and come join us as soon as you’re ready.” She placed everything down on the sofa and started to leave.
“Oh no, you don’t,” I said, forcing her to stop in her tracks. “You can’t leave until you tell me what this is all about.”
“I can’t. It’s a surprise.”
“A surprise for whom?”
She turned to me and squirmed a little. “Sweets, I love you, and I would do anything for you… well, maybe not anything, but damn close… don’t make me do this.”
I repeated my question, “I can’t go out there blind. You have to tell me.”
“I can’t. I promised that I wouldn’t.”
“Promised who?”
“I can’t tell you that either, just know that it’s all good. Now you should get dressed. It’s almost eight o’clock.”
“What happens at eight o’clock? I made up that time for dinner. What’s going on?”
“Please, stop asking me. I seriously can’t tell you anything. It wouldn’t be fair. Now get dressed.”
She picked up the red lace number and held it out for me.
I folded my arms across my chest.
She said, “Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?”
“I was born that way. Now tell me, or I’m staying right here.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Sarah said, and I could tell she was happy for the interruption. “We’ll be right out!”
The door opened, and Mama Capra stood in the doorway.
“What’s the hold up, girls? We got a lot of hungry people out there and if we don’t feed ‘em soon, no tellin’ what might happen. Everybody’s waiting for you.”
Mama Capra was all dressed up in a shiny silver dress and sparkly stacked heels. Her makeup was flawless, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was dressed for a wedding or something of equal importance. She seemed to beam with excitement.
“Is there something you two are keeping from me? Why is everyone so dressed up? What’s this all about?”
“You ask too many questions,” she said without hesitation. “This ain’t a night for your questions. It’s a night for your answers, and for everybody to have fun. One of my sons is opening his own business tomorrow. If that’s not somethin’ we should all celebrate, then I don’t know what is. Now, you gonna get dressed, or do I gotta go out there and tell him you don’t want to celebrate something that you both worked real hard to do?”
“I’ll be right out,” I told her, slipping the dress off the hanger.
“Good. I’ll let Gianni know,” she said. “He won’t serve until you’re in your seat. He’s stubborn like his papa. All my boys are hardheaded, but he’s the worst.”
Then she turned right around, walked out of the door, and closed it behind her.
“She’s scary,” Sarah said. “I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.”
“Believe me, neither would I.”
I slipped out of my clothes and pulled on my dress, and Sarah helped zip up the back. Then I quickly re-did my makeup, ran a brush through my hair, and five minutes later, Sarah and I locked arms and walked out of the office.
“No matter what happens, remember to breathe,” she said.
